former Cornell University Assistant Coach;
2x U.S. National Team member; U.S.Open Freestyle National Champion
The collar tie is one of the most common tie ups in wrestling. Every wrestler needs to know how to clear it and use it against his opponent. In this instructional presentation, Matt Azevedo shows how to clear a collar tie using his elbow pass series. Not only does he demonstrate how to clear the tie, he also demonstrates how to score once the tie has been cleared.
Coach Azevedo breaks down the elbow pass technique into its fundamental positions and identifies three key steps that develop great habits in using it. He also discusses places that less experienced wrestlers will falter and shows how to correct them. He shares several drills to reinforce the fundamentals. The purpose of the drill progression is to get wrestlers familiar with moving their hands and feet in order to get the proper motion to break a collar tie, and develop muscle memory to execute the move in match conditions.
Opponents react in multiple ways to the elbow pass. Coach Azevedo demonstrates seven different attacks off the elbow pass that can be used depending on how your opponent reacts. These attacks include high-level singles, low-level single, comeback single, high crotch, front headlocks and ankle pick. He discusses favorite leg attacks, how to use them to set up other ties or how to attack when no leg is presented.
The elbow pass is a key position that any wrestler (beginner to advanced) can benefit from using properly. Many wrestlers, novice to highly experienced, attack with a collar tie and control the position very well. This presentation teaches how to take away that advantage. Add to it the plethora of attacks that are available and you can move from being controlled to controlling almost every position on your feet.
It will be useful from the beginning to anyone that watches it, from grade school wrestling all the way up to high school. I particularly enjoyed the "Ankle Pick" section, as I believe his adjustment to the move doubles its effectiveness. - Chester Chen
53 minutes. 2014.
WRD-04716B: with Matt Azevedo, Drexel University Head Coach;
former Cornell University Assistant Coach;
2x U.S. National Team member; U.S.Open Freestyle National Champion
Finishing is all about efficiency. Every wrestler needs to be able to finish and score against the best opponents. Matt Azevedo demonstrates how to use different single-leg finishes based on your opponent's reaction to your attacks. He emphasizes great position and making sure that you can recover it when you lose it. Coach Azevedo does an effective job of breaking down each finish and, even more importantly, gives coaches specific drills that can be used to develop these skills.
Finishing with a single leg can be tricky if you don't follow several key steps. Coach Azevedo starts by showing what constitutes good single-leg position, emphasizing head, chest and knee positioning. He also shows how to recover the position if you lose it. Knowing the correct hand position and body alignment is often the difference between scoring and not scoring in wrestling. He incorporates several drills that make the position an automatic response, as well as a drill to teach athletes how to go from one side to another while maintaining good position. His explanations in all areas are easy to understand and make great teaching points for wrestlers of all levels.
Once a strong position is established, Coach Azevedo teaches several finishes, including the following.
- Attack and Up to Feet - The first series of finishes involve penetrating on your single and maintaining a strong position while coming up to your feet. Coach Azevedo shows four finishes that can be used depending upon how your opponent defends. He also shows how to finish when the opponent puts his foot to the outside of your leg.
- On the Mat - The next series covers finishing low when an opponent sprawls . Coach Azevedo demonstrates five finishes, including three that show how to score when an opponent uses a "shin whizzer." You won't get stuck against this effective defense, avoiding the stalemate and maintaining the advantage to your takedown.
- Through the Middle - The last series of finishes deals with going between your opponent's legs. Coach Azevedo shares four techniques, including one that shows how to finish even if your opponent traps your arm. You'll be able to lift your opponent's legs off the ground and avoid the problematic "funk" scramble positions your opponent will try to put you in.
Coach Azevedo covers different scenarios that will allow all wrestlers to be effective once they get into this position.
In order to score, positioning has to be right and you have to know how to recover when you lose it. Coach Azevedo, who has based much of his competitive offense off these positions, has developed a system of teaching that will make advanced wrestlers stronger in these positions and reinforce great fundamentals in less experienced athletes.
Another amazing video on the single leg. There is nothing revolutionary in here just good solid technique that can be used at all levels. His way of dealing with a leg on the outside has already made improvement in our athlete's success rates in finishing the single. - Kevin Webb
74 minutes. 2014.
WRD-04716C: with Matt Azevedo, Drexel University Head Coach;
Former Cornell University Assistant Coach;
2x U.S. National Team member; 2008 U.S. Open Freestyle National Champion
Not every athlete has the ability to get to their feet quickly. The general rule of thumb from the bottom is to hit a stand-up off the whistle. National champion Matt Azevedo shows how a changeover can impact that line of thinking and lead to several different options for the bottom wrestler. In addition, you'll learn how to recover faster from a takedown and other transitional positions.
The changeover is more explosive move than the standard escape and it gets wrestlers of any body style out quicker. It's great for creating space and motion from the bottom position. Starting with the basic technique, Coach Azevedo breaks the changeover down into three easily understandable steps that all roll into one very effective motion. He emphasizes where the technique could fall apart and where there is room for personalization.
Coach Azevedo shows how to use a changeover to perform a hip heist, which helps explosive wrestlers get away quickly and easily. He demonstrates several that can be used in practice to improve the wrestler's ability to do a hip heist. He also shares several options that can be used after executing the changeover, including:
- Power switch - This more powerful, explosive version of the switch allows you to escape and reverse the position.
- Stand-up - Learn how to combine the stand-up with the changeover so your less powerful athletes are able to get to their feet.
- Granby roll - See how to get the top wrestler out of position and what move to hit when they are out of position.
The drills in this section emphasize what really happens in a match, giving wrestlers a feel for its usefulness. With practice, the move becomes second nature and athletes perform it automatically to move from the bottom.
You'll also see the effectiveness of the changeover in countering one of the top rides at any level - the Spiral Ride, and how to get quick escapes after takedowns with the changeover. These are all great ways to integrate a highly effective bottom position into your arsenal no matter the position of the athlete.
The changeover is an effective move that athletes at any level can do off the whistle or as a transition move. This technique will open up several doors for escapes or reversals by the bottom man. Coach Azevedo has a great teaching style that will help any coach or parent enable their athlete to pick it up and use in short order.
It's a great video for all athletes and coaching levels ... Coach Azevedo combines two explosive moves, the change over and granby roll, to create an unstoppable escape! - Chester Chen
51 minutes. 2014.
